Today, we went to the Iwabboki Sluice with the guidance of Mr. Kosugi, and then to the “Urai”, which is a contraption to trap salmon for artificial breeding. This “Urai” also prevents salmon to swim upstream to lay eggs.
The organization, which manages the “Urai” was to my surprise, half private and half government organization that is not composed of people of Kushiro. Therefore, workers of the salmon hatchery stays in a dormitory-like building near their workplace during the hatching season.
It was amazing how the whole process of hatching salmon was so artificial. When the salmons are caught, they are separated by their sex, and are left for a while to become fully-grown. Afterwards, the eggs are taken out of the female salmons’ stomach, which is later mixed with sperm from the male salmons to hatch. Lastly, when the baby salmons are born, and grown to a certain extent, they are released back into the water from the upstream. This cycle represents the whole story of the salmon hatching business in Kushiro River.
However, according to Mr. Kosugi, such breeding pattern of salmon prevents the natural selection of partners on the part of salmons. In fact, the sperm of 1 male salmon is used to fertilize 5 female salmons. The act of trapping salmon before they reach the upstream of the river also prevents them from joining the natural food chain. For example, Tancho Cranes are deprived of dead salmon to eat, which can naturally be found in rivers, after the salmons have laid their eggs.
The scale of this hatchery symbolizes the largeness of the salmon industry. According to the people of the organization, there are many salmon-related organizations on top of them, with the ultimate supervision of the governor of Hokkaido. Moreover, Kushiro River and the Iwabboki Sluice are both managed by the Ministry of Land, Infrastructure, and Transport. Although salmon became state property due to a breakout of salmon as a target of huge consumption, and to tackle the Tragedy of Commons, we must take into account of its consequences.
The outside corporation, which currently manages the “Urai” do not want to open the water gate mainly to maintain its business. Limiting access to the commons to just the State might diminish the emotional connection between animals such as salmon, and humans.
Human Ecology: Rivers 